May 2026

Professor Dilanthi Amaratunga’s interview with BBC Sinhala offers a timely reflection on how Sri Lanka can strengthen its disaster management system in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah. Drawing on her expertise in disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation, she emphasizes the need for an integrated coordination mechanism, clearer and more actionable communication, and stronger […]

A new Loughborough University-led study on Cyclone Ditwah highlights how weaknesses in Sri Lanka’s disaster preparedness and planning intensified the impacts of the catastrophic November–December 2025 event. The research, led by Professor Dilanthi Amaratunga of Loughborough University, found that the cyclone affected approximately 2.3 million people, displaced over 200,000, and caused an estimated US$4.1 billion

Main author for the UNDRR brief: Financial incentives as a strategy for promoting disaster resilience.  It examined financial incentives as a pathway to integrate resilience into national finance systems. Discussions also drew on lessons from housing reconstruction, community‑based micro‑finance, and public‑private partnerships. Emphasis is also placed on the housing sector, which consistently absorbs the highest

A UN report has been published with Professor Dilanthi’s input formally being acknowledged: Flames of change II: Urban Action on extreme heat across Europe and Central Asia. This report aims to examine how cities across Europe and Central Asia are addressing extreme urban heat, which has become the new normal and part of an uncertain

UNDRR selected Professor Dilanthi’s research on women’s leadership and participation in disaster governance as the cornerstone key message for the 2026 International Women’s Day, 8th March 2026 – that empowering women strengthens disaster resilience. It serves as a powerful reminder: Impact isn’t measured by local consensus; it is measured by global change. It is available via